Mechanical Marvels

I found this with some great old SF pics of Astronef style vehicles (though admittedly many others are from the post-Victorian period). Some great reading here!


http://blog.modernmechanix.com/category/space/

Beat to quarters and secure the deck for action!

Most of building the Nautilus is flat-panel work. When you decide to adopt this view, the task becomes far less daunting. The remaining tricky part of this stage is getting the angles and dimensions properly planned out. That's what's in progress now and will soon be enhance via a new CAD program.

In the meantime, I am ordering the parts that are be beyond my present sculpting skills regardless of CAD help.

From Reviresco:

These doors will be part of the Pilot house, Nemo's cabin, Salon/Museum, Library, Engine room, and the Diving chamber.


I mainly needed two of the Engine Order Telegraph pieces; one will go in the Pilot house and the other in the Engine room.

From The London War Room

These doors will be used for the smaller "port and starboard" rooms that are not designated with a letter (seen a few posts ago).

More Iron Stars

Rory has posted some pics of his Aeronefs and Iron Stars ships, as well as other pics of his great gaming models, here: http://web.mac.com/rorymh/iWeb/Home/Gaming.html

More Contraptions!

Today I discovered Andrew's VSF page, which I hadnt come across before and has some wonderful 25mm VSF contraptions, shown below.

You can find his webpage here: http://andrewnz2.tripod.com/id59.html

Prussian Steam-powered Walkers (old 40k sentinels converted and painted by Ken Crawford)

Brit Steam Armour

Stellar Cartography

With Astronef on the horizon (relatively speaking) Tas and I got to talking about a map. After some consideration of how to make something like this - http://sajri.astronomy.cz/asteroidgroups/hildatroj.gif - a game aid (with tokens and spaces), I have decided that the most useful Astronef game map would show Jupiter with Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. This map is in progress and should be posted soon.

My decision not to show the solar system (at least as far as Jupiter) was not merely based on simplicity. Tas believes that most of the interaction in Astronef will be a much more limited scale. If you are engaging and enemy near Deimos, it will not matter if he has additional ships deployed near Mercury.

Still, you owe it to yourself and your crew to visit the link above included.


Reply by Tas:
I envision an azimtuh projection of the Inner planets, but cenetred on Earth not the Sun. The idea being it would be an Astrogator's chart for navigating from Earth to other destinations (which are depcted in their relative motion to earth). There would then theoretically be a correspnding chart for each of the destination to return.

Idea floated so far are a Stellar Meridian (for standard emasrement of time) and units of measurement being Aetherial Leagues.

Blazar V4 Pin Pulsar

Introducing the first of its kind, the VanDeco* Blazar V4 Pin Pulsar!

* A subsidiary company of Vanvlak Industries Pty Ltd


The design is a pup-sci-fi design messed up by a meddling time traveller who dumped it in his labs in 1899. His assistant is still baffled by the glass device fitted on one side. It's a bit scuffed and corroded, and what appears to be a sighting device is scratched, but it still appears to be functional.




The Blazar V4 was a spurious name assigned to the gun returned by a time traveller to the VanDeco Institute, the V4 designation intended to confuse spies. The Institute subsequently manufactured a mass-produced version, the Blazar 1900, which WOULD have more brass etc.

But I still have to build that - it's in the future of that past... er.... I think....



Well done Sah! Well Done indeed!

VSF Dog-fighting

Now here is something I've been thinking about for awhile - VSF dogfighting! This one is a later pulp version, but simple and full of the kind of silliness we have come to know and love from this genre.


BLAZING SKIES FLUFFY CLOUDS: Air War In the Age of Jingoism.
by Atkins Wargames

Flying Officer Stumpy Prangsworthy’s handlebar moustache streamed behind him in the 80mph wind as he craned his head round trying to locate where Von Strudels Flopper Troutplane had gone to. Deep within the cloud, the spineless Boche had shown his true colours and escaped Stumpys righteous justice. The little Armstrong-WTF 90hp engine growled a new song as he side-slipped his trusty Soppingwet Camel down towards the now helpless Gotha Inhimmel. The Gotha was almost at the target and in scant moments would land at the brewery and snatch No14 Squadrons Claret from under their noses.


Battle in the skies in your Soppingwet Camel, Hawker Ptooey, Flopper Troutplane, Gotha Inhimmel, Knockwurst Einedicker, Vicar’s Funbus, Vicar's Victim, State Model~1337 or Caproni Antipasto! Upgrades include:

• Intimidating paint Job -Such is the fear instilled by the paint job, bandits firing at this kite are -1 to hit it



• Iron undercarriage - +1 to Bumps rolls on fitted kite



• Bribe the C.O - The C.O writes a glowing report on you. +1 gong point



• Pints in the mess - Everyone thinks you’re a good chap, choose your kite for the next mission out of the squadrons inventory



• Disposable Escape kit - Chap automatically escapes from enemy prison

Energy management, height management and the ability to scream "Dakkadakkadakka" whilst surrounded by fellow gamers is what this game's about. A strong campaign side allows pilot and plane development

From the Introduction (and their website):

"Suddenly from behind screaming out of a wingunder manoeuvre the Troutplane appeared in Stumpys vanity mirror, its machinenblastens sparkling motes of fire. A line of holes stitched up the Soppingwets wing and tore the aileron. “Blast you, Von Strudel “yelled Stumpy as he realised that he had been sold a duffer and was gone for a burton.

Only one trick could save him. Feathering his Kites prop, he hit the airbrakesand was rewarded with the bright pink Troutplane flashing under him.

Dropping the nose Stumpy let rip a corking burst which caught the Jerry a treat. Flames poured from the Troutplane’s Junkers Jumbo radial engine and Von Strudel Hit the Silk. Von Strudel shook his fist as Stumpy flashed past. “Verdammt Englander! Finish me now! The shame is too great!” “Not a chance old pip,” grinned Stumpy; “A Englishman flies by the rules of the game, and potting a Chap on his chute is defiantly not playing the game.”

What a laugh! Sounds great and with just a little imagination, a swag of VSF kites could be gathered also.

See more about this great sounding game here: http://www.freewebs.com/tommiatkins/

Or read more and see an AAR here: http://www.freewebs.com/tommiatkins/blazingskies.htm

and I found an old News article at TMP with some comments here: http://theminiaturespage.com/news/894498

Has anyone played or seen this played?

"So no more time for breifing chaps, Scramble! Chocks away and we'll be back before opening time! Hurrah!"

Continuing the tour...

Here we see the correction of the previous illustrations. The dimensions of certain rooms have been altered. Additionally, Nemo's quarters has been moved to another deck, just below and just ahead of the pilot house. The galley has been expanded and moved to just aft of the dining room. The chamber shown as "X" is the diving preparation room.

All the spaces not designated with a letter serve as storage or spare cabins (though we must imagine visitors are exceptionally rare).

This will likely be the last post of schematics. Our project will move to 3D construction quite soon.

Need a Monster aerostat?

Here is a 1/144 scale model of the German WW1 naval Zeppelin LZ4, by Airalex

With this beast you can cross the channel at will and bomb with impunity!

At $300 each I'm guessing you wont be flying squadrons of them on the table but she does have wonderful detail as is hand-made. I love the paint scheme too, I might have to use that on my next big Dig.

http://airalex.homestead.com/ZEPPELIN.html

Captain No-one

Having gone a little Nemo crazy this week at WWS(and there is nothing wrong with that!), I thought it would be interesting to think about the man more in depth.

Captain Nemo is a unique and interesting character who was left deliberately vague in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Thus, he has been represented in different ways by those who wish to depict the genius behind the Nautilus.

One of the major differences are the portrayals of his heritage. Some depictions are European, others more Indian. Recently, I found this explanation on wiki, which was interesting:


"In the initial draft of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Nemo was a Polish noble vengeful because of the murder of his family during the Russian repression of the Polish insurrection of 1863-1864. Verne's editor Pierre-Jules Hetzel feared a book ban in the Russian market and offending a French ally, the Russian Empire. He made Verne obscure Nemo's motivation in the first book. However, Nemo reveals an Indian ancestry in a scene where he saves a South Indian fisherman while on a scuba dive.

It is in the sequel that Nemo presents himself as Prince Dakkar, the Hindu son of the Rajah of Bundelkund and nephew of Tippoo Sahib, having a deep hatred of the British conquest of India. After the Sepoy mutiny, he devotes himself to scientific research and develops an advanced electric submarine, the Nautilus. He and a crew of his followers cruise the seas, battling injustice, especially slavery. The gold of Spanish ships sunk at the Bay of Vigo provided them with money."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Nemo

You can read the chapter detailing Nemo's life online here: http://jv.gilead.org.il/kravitz/3/16.html

This Indian theme was continued in both the comic and movie of "The League of Extraordinary Gentlmen", in which the Captain's death at Mysterious Island was faked in order to disperse international interest in him. Then he went to work in secret with Her Majesty's Government.

Captain Nemo was also portrayed in a self-titled Japanese Manga series, but this time back as a European.

Kevin Anderson has written two books on the adventures of a young Nemo in company with a young French gentlemen named Mssr Verne.

Read a review of the first book here:

http://www.scifi.com/sfw/books/sfw7991.html

According to wikpedia, Nemo has been portrayed in film and TV by the following actors:

James Mason played Captain Nemo in the Walt Disney film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954). His is the most famous portrayal.
Herbert Lom played Captain Nemo in Mysterious Island (1961)
Robert Ryan played Captain Nemo in Captain Nemo and the Underwater City (1969)
Omar Sharif played Captain Nemo in La Isla misteriosa y el capitán Nemo (1973)
Len Carlson played Captain Mark Nemo in the very loosely connected animated series The Undersea Adventures of Captain Nemo in the mid-1970s.
José Ferrer played Captain Nemo in the TV movie and short lived TV-series The Return of Captain Nemo (1978)
John Bach played Captain Nemo in the TV series Mysterious Island (1995)
Michael Caine played Captain Nemo in the ABC-TV miniseries 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1997)
Ben Cross played Captain Nemo in the NBC-TV movie 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1997)
Naseeruddin Shah played Captain Nemo (unmistakably as an Indian Lord) in the film adaptation of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
Patrick Stewart played Captain Nemo in the TV movie Mysterious Island (2005)

Finally, there is a great set of Captain Nemo links here:

http://chilembwe.net/captain_nemo/origin.html

Brigade Models Land Ironclads update

The trans-oceanic telegraph (repeated by drums) has informed me that those stirling chaps at Brigade Models are currently sorting out their LI moulds and they should be ready for release around late October.

Bravo I say!

Returning to the Piscine of the Crime...

I wasn't entirely happy with the recent illustration of the Nautilus. Tonight, inspired by a picture of a rabbit fish washed ashore by a recent tsunami, I created a new view of the main deck.

Another metal cylinder from Mars?

Is the first sign of another Invasion force en-route to Earth?

Yes, another Green Flash! Just like last time...

Mon Sep 17, 11:23 PM -
Mystery illness strikes after meteorite hits Peruvian village

LIMA - Villagers in southern Peru were struck by a mysterious illness after a meteorite made a fiery crash to Earth in their area, regional authorities said Monday.

Around midday Saturday, villagers were startled by an explosion and a fireball that many were convinced was an airplane crashing near their remote village, located in the high Andes department of Puno in the Desaguadero region, near the border with Bolivia.

Residents complained of headaches and vomiting brought on by a "strange odor," local health department official Jorge Lopez told Peruvian radio RPP.

Seven policemen who went to check on the reports also became ill and had to be given oxygen before being hospitalized, Lopez said. Rescue teams and experts were dispatched to the scene, where the meteorite left a 100-foot-wide (30-meter-wide) and 20-foot-deep (six-meter-deep) crater, said local official Marco Limache.

"Boiling water started coming out of the crater and particles of rock and cinders were found nearby. Residents are very concerned," he said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070918/sc_afp/peruhealthoffbeat

Sometimes a Cigar is...

I have some Nautilus plans coming in the mail but I'm not one to let that stop me from art.

Here is the initial draft of the main deck of our submarine. The code for rooms (adjacent to the letters, of course) is as follows:

A = a kind of guest room
N = Nemo's quarters
S = Salon/Museum
L = Library
C = another cabin
G = Galley
B = Berthing for the crew
E = Engine room

Pig Tickling

If you've not heard of it before, you need to discover:

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Pax Limpopo

by Eureka Miniatures

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Gentlemenly madness and mayhem on unicyles,

with a mechanical pig thrown in for fun!

.

Pig Tickler is a game for any number of enthusiastic players, the more the merrier. Lancers on unicycles ride around a field attempting to score points or gold rumps by stabbing a mechanical pig, whilst avoiding being knocked over and trampled by the pig.

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Pig Tickler itself refers to an incident that occurred during Pax Limpopo's version of the Crimean War. On the eve of the charge of the Light Brigade, Lord Cardigan lost his horses in a poker game. Lord Lucan forced him to use unicycles instead. His men drilled all night and became quite proficient at them. The next day, during the battle of Balaclava, the Light Brigade charged on their one-wheeled steeds. The Russians, in response, let loose clockwork pigs purchased from the Prussians. The pigs would scare horses, but they had no effect on the unicyclers. They got to the Russian guns and captured all of them without a man lost. Ever since, British mounted units played a sport where they would mount unicycles in an attempt to stick an original Balaclava mechanical pig (converted to "dependable British steam") with a lance. This became known as "pig tickling".

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Just the kind of sillyness we like eh?

.

Just as importantly though, there are some fantastic figs that go with these rules.

Zorz at TMP posted a link to his Pig Ticklers a little while ago

http://wargamesterrain.50webs.com/pig_tickler.html


These Pig Tickler minis were painted by Flashman14 and are hosted at "Cool Mini or What"

http://www.coolminiornot.com/14679

Niall has also posted some of his Pig Tickler Minis to Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/niallcorbet/379329219/


And Matakishi's Tea House website has some good pics and description of the game too
http://www.matakishi.com/pigticklerproject.htm


As for me, I played once at an Open Day a few years ago, but being a 15mm VSF player I plan to convert some British Zulu War Lancers to play in my preferred scale, and I have an "incendiary pig" from an Ancient range to use too.


...but you can order the figs and rules from Eureka Miniatures here:
http://www.eurekamin.com.au/

...or if you are already into Pig Tickling, you may find the House rules listed here amusing additions for your own games:
http://www.hyperbear.com/pig/pig-house-rules.html


...and if this doesnt amuse you, try the next Pax Limpopo game "Wagers of Sin":

Street urchins race savage velociraptors around the fetid sewers of Victorian London in a base travesty of the sport of kings. You can wager your ill-gotten gains on the outcome.